The year was 1926. Charlie Chaplin was the most famous person in the world and Ford Motor Company started a crazy thing called the 40-hour work week. It was also the year a man named Harry Cooper won the inaugural Los Angeles Open, an event that is known today as the Genesis Invitational, and has become one of the marquee events on the PGA Tour schedule.
Today, the Genesis Invitational is hosted by Tiger Woods as he has become synonymous with the event held annually at Riviera Country Club. Oddly enough, Riviera is one of the few venues at which Tiger has never won (although he has come close). Throughout nearly 100 years, some of golf’s biggest names have won the Genesis Invitational including Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson, and Dustin Johnson.
The 2024 Genesis Invitational is a PGA Tour Signature Event. It will be held February 15-18 with a $20 million purse on the line and 700 FedExCup points up for grabs for the winner. Here is a complete history and some fun facts to get you familiar with the Genesis Invitational.
Riviera Country Club
Riviera is known for it's famous 10th hole (pictured above), which some golf course architecture enthusiasts proclaim is the world's best short par 4. The devilish hole measures just 315 yards but offers a tiny, angled, sloping green that's protected by bunkers short, right, and long, and a tricky collection area left. The cheeky hole brings every score from eagle to double-bogey into play.
One of the most famous private clubs in the U.S., Riviera Country Club is located in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. The club opened in 1926 and was designed by the duo of George C. Thomas Jr. and William P. Bell. When it opened, "Riv" was named Los Angeles Athletic Club Golf Course. At the time, it was the most expensive club ever built, at $243,827. Adjusted for today’s inflation, that would be over $4 billion.
Aside from hosting the Genesis Invitational 58 times, Riviera Country Club has also held three major championships; the 1948 U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship in 1983 and 1995. The U.S. Senior Open was held at Riviera in 1998 as was the 2017 U.S. Amateur. Upcoming, the club is set to host the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open as well as the 2028 Olympics.
“Hogan’s Alley” is commonly referred to when talking about Riviera because Ben Hogan saw tremendous success there, winning the LA Open in 1947 and 1948, along with that 1948 U.S. Open. The course plays 7,400 yards with a 75.6 rating and 137 slope (par-71). Famous celebrities that are current or past members include Tom Brady, Mark Wahlberg, Jack Nicholson, Adam Sandler, Walt Disney, and Dean Martin.
Genesis Invitational Cut Line
The Genesis Invitational has always played tough. Since 2012, the cut line has bounced around from a low of even par to a high of three-over par. The largest number of players to make the cut in that time was in 2013 when 79 players made it to the weekend. Here’s where the cut line has fallen over the past 10 years.
| Year | Cut (Total) | Players to Make the Cut |
| 2023 | +1 (143) | 68 |
| 2022 | E (142) | 75 |
| 2021 | E (142) | 67 |
| 2020 | +1 (143) | 68 |
| 2019 | E (142) | 76 |
| 2018 | +2 (144) | 76 |
| 2017 | E (142) | 71 |
| 2016 | E (142) | 77 |
| 2015 | +3 (145) | 75 |
| 2014 | +1 (143) | 77 |
| 2013 | +2 (144) | 79 |
| 2012 | +3 (145) | 76 |
Genesis Invitational History and Results
Since 1926, the Genesis Invitational has had several title sponsors and names. Those include: Genesis Open, Northern Trust Open, Nissan Open, Nissan Los Angeles Open, and Los Angeles Open.
Besides Riviera Country Club, 10 other clubs have hosted the Genesis Invitational. They are: Valencia Country Club, Rancho Park Golf Course, Brookside Golf Course, Inglewood Country Club, Fox Hills Country Club, Wilshire Country Club, Hillcrest Country Club, Los Angeles Country Club, Griffith Park, El Caballero Country Club.
Next to Riviera Country Club, Rancho Park Golf Course has hosted the next most Genesis Invitationals with 17.
Hyundai Motor Group, which owns Genesis Motors, began its title sponsorship in 2017.
The Tiger Woods Foundation began organizing the event in 2020, when Tiger himself became the official tournament host.
Seventeen players have multiple wins at this event, but none more than Macdonald Smith (1928, 1929, 1932, 1934) and Lloyd Mangrum (1949, 1951, 1953, 1956), with four wins apiece.
The modern-day player with the most success at the Genesis Invitational is Bubba Watson, who has won three times (2014, 2016, 2018).
The scoring record for the tournament belongs to Lanny Wadkins. In 1985 he shot -20 (264). Defending champion, Joaquín Niemann, almost matched it with a -19 (265) in 2022.
The Genesis Invitational has gone to a playoff 20 times, most recently in 2021 when Max Homa defeated Tony Finau.
The largest margin of victory occurred in 1962 when Phil Rodgers bested the field by nine strokes with his score of -16 (268).
The first event in 1926 has a total purse of $10,000. Fast-forward to 2023 when the purse hit $20 million with Jon Rahm's winning share paying $3.6 million. Here is a full history of Genesis Invitational winners and payouts.
| Year | Winner | Score | Purse | Winners Share |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | -17 (263) | $20,000,000 | $3,600,000 |
| 2022 | Joaquín Niemann | -19 (265) | $12,000,000 | $2,160,000 |
| 2021 | Max Homa | -12 (272) | $9,300,000 | $1,674,000 |
| 2020 | Adam Scott | -11 (273) | $9,300,000 | $1,674,000 |
| 2019 | J. B. Holmes | -14 (270) | $7,400,000 | $1,332,000 |
| 2018 | Bubba Watson | -12 (272) | $7,200,000 | $1,296,000 |
| 2017 | Dustin Johnson | -17 (267) | $7,000,000 | $1,260,000 |
| 2016 | Bubba Watson | -15 (269) | $6,800,000 | $1,224,000 |
| 2015 | James Hahn | -6 (278) | $6,700,000 | $1,206,000 |
| 2014 | Bubba Watson | -15 (269) | $6,700,000 | $1,206,000 |
| 2013 | John Merrick | -11 (273) | $6,600,000 | $1,188,000 |
| 2012 | Bill Haas | -7 (277) | $6,600,000 | $1,188,000 |
| 2011 | Aaron Baddeley | -12 (272) | $6,500,000 | $1,170,000 |
| 2010 | Steve Stricker | -16 (268) | $6,400,000 | $1,152,000 |
| 2009 | Phil Mickelson | -15 (269) | $6,300,000 | $1,134,000 |
| 2008 | Phil Mickelson | -12 (272) | $6,200,000 | $1,116,000 |
| 2007 | Charles Howell III | -16 (268) | $5,200,000 | $936,000 |
| 2006 | Rory Sabbatini | -13 (271) | $5,100,000 | $918,000 |
| 2005 | Adam Scott | -9 (133) | $4,800,000 | $864,000 |
| 2004 | Mike Weir | -17 (267) | $4,800,000 | $864,000 |
| 2003 | Mike Weir | -9 (275) | $4,500,000 | $810,000 |
| 2002 | Len Mattiace | -15 (269) | $3,700,000 | $666,000 |
| 2001 | Robert Allenby | -8 (276) | $3,400,000 | $612,000 |
| 2000 | Kirk Triplett | -12 (272) | $3,100,000 | $558,000 |
| 1999 | Ernie Els | -14 (270) | $2,800,000 | $504,000 |
| 1998 | Billy Mayfair | -12 (272) | $2,100,000 | $378,000 |
| 1997 | Nick Faldo | -12 (272) | $1,400,000 | $252,000 |
| 1996 | Craig Stadler | -6 (278) | $1,200,000 | $216,000 |
| 1995 | Corey Pavin | -16 (268) | $1,200,000 | $216,000 |
| 1994 | Corey Pavin | -13 (271) | $1,000,000 | $180,000 |
| 1993 | Tom Kite | -7 (206) | $1,000,000 | $180,000 |
| 1992 | Fred Couples | -15 (269) | $1,000,000 | $180,000 |
| 1991 | Ted Schulz | -12 (272) | $1,000,000 | $180,000 |
| 1990 | Fred Couples | -18 (266) | $1,000,000 | $180,000 |
| 1989 | Mark Calcavecchia | -12 (272) | $1,000,000 | $180,000 |
| 1988 | Chip Beck | -17 (267) | $750,000 | $135,000 |
| 1987 | Chen Tze-chung | -9 (275) | $600,000 | $108,000 |
| 1986 | Doug Tewell | -14 (270) | $450,000 | $81,000 |
| 1985 | Lanny Wadkins | -20 (264) | $400,000 | $72,000 |
| 1984 | David Edwards | -5 (279) | $400,000 | $72,000 |
| 1983 | Gil Morgan | -14 (270) | $300,000 | $54,000 |
| 1982 | Tom Watson | -13 (271) | $300,000 | $54,000 |
| 1981 | Johnny Miller | -14 (270) | $300,000 | $54,000 |
| 1980 | Tom Watson | -8 (276) | $250,000 | $45,000 |
| 1979 | Lanny Wadkins | -8 (276) | $250,000 | $45,000 |
| 1978 | Gil Morgan | -6 (278) | $225,000 | $40,000 |
| 1977 | Tom Purtzer | -11 (273) | $225,000 | $40,000 |
| 1976 | Hale Irwin | -12 (272) | $185,000 | $37,000 |
| 1975 | Pat Fitzsimons | -9 (275) | $150,000 | $30,000 |
| 1974 | Dave Stockton | -8 (276) | $150,000 | $30,000 |
| 1973 | Rod Funseth | -8 (276) | $135,000 | $27,000 |
| 1972 | George Archer | -14 (270) | $125,000 | $25,000 |
| 1971 | Bob Lunn | -10 (274) | $110,000 | $22,000 |
| 1970 | Billy Casper | -8 (276) | $100,000 | $20,000 |
| 1969 | Charlie Sifford | -8 (276) | $100,000 | $20,000 |
| 1968 | Billy Casper | -10 (274) | $100,000 | $20,000 |
| 1967 | Arnold Palmer | -15 (269) | $100,000 | $20,000 |
| 1966 | Arnold Palmer | -11 (273) | $70,000 | $11,000 |
| 1965 | Paul Harney | -8 (276) | $70,000 | $12,000 |
| 1964 | Paul Harney | -4 (280) | 50,000 | $7,500 |
| 1963 | Arnold Palmer | -10 (274) | $50,000 | $9,000 |
| 1962 | Phil Rodgers | -16 (268) | $45,000 | $7,500 |
| 1961 | Bob Goalby | -9 (275) | $45,000 | $7,500 |
| 1960 | Dow Finsterwald | -4 (280) | $37,500 | $5,500 |
| 1959 | Ken Venturi | -6 (278) | $35,000 | $5,300 |
| 1958 | Frank Stranahan | -9 (275) | $35,000 | $7,000 |
| 1957 | Doug Ford | -4 (280) | $37,500 | $7,000 |
| 1956 | Lloyd Mangrum | -12 (272) | $32,500 | $6,000 |
| 1955 | Gene Littler | -8 (276) | $25,000 | $5,000 |
| 1954 | Fred Wampler | -3 (281) | $20,000 | $4,000 |
| 1953 | Lloyd Mangrum | -4 (280) | $20,000 | $2,750 |
| 1952 | Tommy Bolt | +5 (289) | $17,500 | $4,000 |
| 1951 | Lloyd Mangrum | -4 (280) | $15,000 | $2,600 |
| 1950 | Sam Snead | -4 (280) | $15,000 | $2,600 |
| 1949 | Lloyd Mangrum | E (284) | $15,000 | $2,600 |
| 1948 | Ben Hogan | -9 (275) | $10,000 | $2,000 |
| 1947 | Ben Hogan | -4 (280) | $10,000 | $2,000 |
| 1946 | Byron Nelson | E (284) | $13,333 | $2,667 |
| 1945 | Sam Snead | -1 (283) | $13,333 | $2,666 |
| 1944 | Jug McSpaden | -6 (278) | $12,500 | $4,300 |
| 1943 | Not Played (World War II) | |||
| 1942 | Ben Hogan | -6 (282) | $10,000 | $3,500 |
| 1941 | Johnny Bulla | -3 (281) | $10,000 | $3,500 |
| 1940 | Lawson Little | +2 (282) | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1939 | Jimmy Demaret | -10 (274) | $5,000 | $1,650 |
| 1938 | Jimmy Thomson | -11 (273) | $5,000 | $2,100 |
| 1937 | Harry Cooper | -10 (274) | $8,000 | $2,500 |
| 1936 | Jimmy Hines | E (280) | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1935 | Vic Ghezzi | +5 (285) | $5,000 | $1,075 |
| 1934 | Macdonald Smith | E (280) | $5,000 | $1,450 |
| 1933 | Craig Wood | -2 (282) | $5,000 | $1,525 |
| 1932 | Macdonald Smith | -3 (281) | $7,500 | $2,000 |
| 1931 | Ed Dudley | +1 (285) | $10,000 | $3,500 |
| 1930 | Denny Shute | +12 (296) | $10,000 | $3,500 |
| 1929 | Macdonald Smith | +1 (285) | $10,000 | $3,500 |
| 1928 | Macdonald Smith | E (284) | $10,000 | $3,500 |
| 1927 | Bobby Cruickshank | -6 (282) | $10,000 | $3,500 |
| 1926 | Harry Cooper | -9 (279) | $10,000 | $3,500 |
